New Delhi: The Election Commission of India (ECI) released the Draft Electoral Roll for Bihar on August 1, 2025, following the first phase of its Special Intensive Revision (SIR) 2025. The draft, covering 243 Assembly Constituencies and 90,712 polling booths, is available on the ECI portal and has been shared with political parties by Bihar’s 38 District Election Officers (DEOs). A one-month period, from August 1 to September 1, is now open for electors and political parties to file claims and objections to add or remove names from the roll.
The ECI described the preparation as a significant undertaking, involving the Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) of Bihar, DEOs, Electoral Registration Officers (EROs), 2,976 Assistant Electoral Registration Officers (AEROs), Booth Level Officers (BLOs) for all polling booths, numerous volunteers, and 1.60 lakh Booth Level Agents (BLAs) from 12 political parties. Over 7.24 crore electors reportedly submitted enumeration forms for inclusion in the draft roll. The ECI emphasised the process as transparent and impartial, claiming outreach to every village, ward, and household. However, the absence of independent verification or detailed metrics on coverage raises questions about the comprehensiveness of these efforts.
Eligible voters are urged to check their inclusion in the draft roll. Those not listed, including young voters who turned 18 by July 1 or will turn 18 by October 1, can submit Form 6 with a Declaration Form to register. The ECI has stipulated that no name will be removed from the draft roll without a hearing and a written order, appealable to the District Magistrate or the CEO.
The SIR process and draft roll’s release have faced protests by the opposition in Parliament and across Bihar, including in Patna, where political parties like the Rashtriya Janata Dal, Congress, and All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen demonstrated in late July and early August. A verified protest march to the Election Commission office in Patna occurred on July 30, with concerns raised over alleged voter exclusions and a lack of transparency. Authorities have stated that the protests remained largely peaceful and that the claims and objections period will address discrepancies transparently.
– global bihari bureau
